THE ANALYSIS OF CONFLICT IN RELATION TO SETTING IN DARK PLACES NOVEL BY GILLIAN FLYNN

Abstract

; "> The research aims to analyze the conflicts in relation to settings in the novel
DarkPlaces written by Gillian Flynn. The analysis uses structuralism theory. The
technique applied is close reading.The writer focuses on three intrinsic elements:
character, setting and plot. Each of these elements has relationship that supports
the story. Firstly, the characterswho have big influence to the story are Libby Day,
Ben Day, Diondra and Patty Day. The character of Libby Day has the traits as
lowself-esteem, liar and thief. The characters of Ben Day that cause the conflicts
are introvert and protective. The next one is the character of Diondra who is wild,
liar and two-faced, and agitator. The last the character is Patty Day who is anxious
and hopeless. In other words, the characters’ traits in this study are the characters
that trigger further conflict whether internal or external conflicts.Secondly, in the
analysis about setting, the study is focused on the objects of possession and
building. The settings are used to make clear about the place and the situation
when a conflict happens. They are the red hair, the farm and farmhouse, the
school and the stolen things. The settings are important as the cause of the
conflicts and also as the problem solver.The last element is the plot of the story
that also becomes important because the conflicts happen in the flow of the plot.
Based on the findings, there are two kinds of conflicts: internal and external
conflicts. The characters who have internal conflicts are Libby Day, Ben Day and
Patty Day. They have personal conflicts such as guilty anddoubt, cowardice and
sacrifaction. These internal conflicts can lead to external conflicts. The characters
who have external conflicts are Libby vs Ben, Ben vs Patty, and Libby vsDiondra.
Keywords: structuralism, characters’ traits, settings, plot, conflicts